Hon Maurice Williamson MP
National Party Transport Spokesman
23 February 2006
Transit sits on hands over Rugby World Cup
Transit NZ has revealed it has done nothing to accelerate roading projects in Auckland to cope with the Rugby World Cup
in 2011, says National Party Transport spokesman Maurice Williamson.
Transit chairman David Stubbs told the transport and industrial relations select committee today that despite the Prime
Minister indicating that infrastructure needs for the event would be met, Transit had done nothing to plan for it.
“When I asked if it had done anything to accelerate or change its roading plans in Auckland following the successful bid
to host the World Cup here, Mr Stubbs replied ‘no’,” Mr Williamson says.
“If anything, there needs to be a massive acceleration of roading projects in Auckland to avoid ghastly congestion
during the event.
“Transit appears to have no sense of urgency, nor any understanding of the traffic chaos that is likely from such a huge
event being held partly in our biggest city.
“We are in danger of being an international laughing stock if we do nothing.
“They should be looking to accelerate projects in Auckland – not put them off as their draft 10-year state highways plan
released yesterday indicates.”
ENDS